Overall Rating | Silver |
---|---|
Overall Score | 58.23 |
Liaison | Sarah Williams |
Submission Date | July 24, 2023 |
Whitman College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
1.50 / 4.00 |
Sarah
Williams Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Our upcoming Climate Action Plan update will include new goals for addressing sustainability curriculum and research.
Our recent Academic themes included expectations of increased sustainability teachings in the classrooms, but nothing measurable. Previous theme can be found here https://www.whitman.edu/academics/academic-theme
Our recent Academic themes included expectations of increased sustainability teachings in the classrooms, but nothing measurable. Previous theme can be found here https://www.whitman.edu/academics/academic-theme
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Excerpt from the Climate Action Plan:
"Human behavior change is critical to creating a campus culture aware of our climate impacts. As an institution of learning, teaching is our primary purpose, both in and out of the classroom, for students, staff, faculty, and visitors alike. By committing to become climate neutral, Whitman has demonstrated leadership, but we must also work to expand the reach of our efforts. The following recommendations are broken down by target audience. The following efforts rarely stand alone and instead are extensions of efforts in the previous categories.
Goal: Become a shining light of sustainability and climate action in the region.
Objectives:
* Retool the Green Leaders club into EcoReps run by the Campus Sustainability Manager to educate campus residents about their environmental impact and initiate behavior change. Implement a sustainability pledge or dorm certification process.
* Renew sustainability in new student orientation and campus welcome to establish culture of accountability.
* Continue to coordinate with student groups to cooperate on campus events and efforts.
* Connect students with parents and alumni working in the fields of sustainability, renewable energy, climate change, environmental protection, and more.
* Establish volunteer sustainability leaders in campus offices and departments to bring about peer-to-peer sustainability education.
* Offer sustainability-related workshops for campus employees.
* Expand education of parents, prospective students, and alumni or Whitman’s sustainability initiatives.
* Find direct, meaningful ways for donors to the College to contribute to emissions reductions measures
* Invite parents and alumni to sustainability programming or to be guest speakers, etc.
* Invite community members and organizations to connect with students, demonstrate their work or research on campus as guests, and collaborate for mutual benefit.
* Expand outreach of campus initiatives into off-campus partnerships and education."
"Human behavior change is critical to creating a campus culture aware of our climate impacts. As an institution of learning, teaching is our primary purpose, both in and out of the classroom, for students, staff, faculty, and visitors alike. By committing to become climate neutral, Whitman has demonstrated leadership, but we must also work to expand the reach of our efforts. The following recommendations are broken down by target audience. The following efforts rarely stand alone and instead are extensions of efforts in the previous categories.
Goal: Become a shining light of sustainability and climate action in the region.
Objectives:
* Retool the Green Leaders club into EcoReps run by the Campus Sustainability Manager to educate campus residents about their environmental impact and initiate behavior change. Implement a sustainability pledge or dorm certification process.
* Renew sustainability in new student orientation and campus welcome to establish culture of accountability.
* Continue to coordinate with student groups to cooperate on campus events and efforts.
* Connect students with parents and alumni working in the fields of sustainability, renewable energy, climate change, environmental protection, and more.
* Establish volunteer sustainability leaders in campus offices and departments to bring about peer-to-peer sustainability education.
* Offer sustainability-related workshops for campus employees.
* Expand education of parents, prospective students, and alumni or Whitman’s sustainability initiatives.
* Find direct, meaningful ways for donors to the College to contribute to emissions reductions measures
* Invite parents and alumni to sustainability programming or to be guest speakers, etc.
* Invite community members and organizations to connect with students, demonstrate their work or research on campus as guests, and collaborate for mutual benefit.
* Expand outreach of campus initiatives into off-campus partnerships and education."
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Excerpt from the Climate Action Plan:
"Standardize building efficiency measures for new construction and retrofits, including the adoption of resource conservation technologies such as LED lighting, daylight harvesting, low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, etc. As recommended by PAE, this proposal would cost an estimated $43 million by 2050.
* Set universal heating and cooling set points for campus buildings, with some exceptions - Penrose Library, Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, etc. The Department of Energy recommends a heating setpoint of 68F and a cooling set point of 78F. Pair with an energy conservation campaign to build building occupant buy-in.
Install utility sub-metering and building dashboard systems into residence halls, and then roll out to all other campus buildings.
* Sub-meter all utilities on all major campus buildings and tie into publicly-accessible building dashboard interfaces both onsite and online to provide better operational data and means for decision-making, as well as leverage for occupant behavior change.
* Increase purchase of renewable energy credits to 100% of our electricity consumption and then purchase GHG offsets related to natural gas emissions mitigation for campus natural gas usage
* Install solar thermal collectors on campus buildings to augment heat and hot water
* Continue to explore wind and solar power production on campus agricultural holdings in partnership with power companies
* Develop strategies for continuously funding renewable energy projects on campus
* Based on engineering studies of campus solar productivity, establish a goal for percentage of power from solar or total solar nameplate capacity."
"Standardize building efficiency measures for new construction and retrofits, including the adoption of resource conservation technologies such as LED lighting, daylight harvesting, low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, etc. As recommended by PAE, this proposal would cost an estimated $43 million by 2050.
* Set universal heating and cooling set points for campus buildings, with some exceptions - Penrose Library, Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, etc. The Department of Energy recommends a heating setpoint of 68F and a cooling set point of 78F. Pair with an energy conservation campaign to build building occupant buy-in.
Install utility sub-metering and building dashboard systems into residence halls, and then roll out to all other campus buildings.
* Sub-meter all utilities on all major campus buildings and tie into publicly-accessible building dashboard interfaces both onsite and online to provide better operational data and means for decision-making, as well as leverage for occupant behavior change.
* Increase purchase of renewable energy credits to 100% of our electricity consumption and then purchase GHG offsets related to natural gas emissions mitigation for campus natural gas usage
* Install solar thermal collectors on campus buildings to augment heat and hot water
* Continue to explore wind and solar power production on campus agricultural holdings in partnership with power companies
* Develop strategies for continuously funding renewable energy projects on campus
* Based on engineering studies of campus solar productivity, establish a goal for percentage of power from solar or total solar nameplate capacity."
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
"Enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion" is one of Whitman College's five strategic priorities:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of Whitman College. Our mission focuses on educating a broad range of talented students in a college community where everyone can participate fully in the life of the college and experience a genuine sense of belonging. For Whitman, diversity includes the composition of the students, faculty and staff, as well as the curriculum, ideas, experiences, relations and cultural traditions across our community. We must become a place where both majority and minority members of our community experience difference every day, where diversity is woven throughout our cultural fabric: our values, our behavior, our culture.
Rationale
As an educational institution, Whitman College has been on a long journey towards diversity, equity and inclusion, making them core values to our mission of educating a broad range of talented students. Equity provides full participation for all students, faculty and staff to all facilities, programs and resources of the college. And inclusion means creating a sense of belonging for all members of our community, where the climate promotes full participation in the life of the college. Such an inclusive, equitable and diverse learning environment enhances student learning by providing opportunity for vigorous exchange of ideas that improves the quality of a Whitman education.
Approach
• Weave diversity throughout our cultural fabric: our values, our behavior, our culture. We believe that such a deepened educational experience benefits all students, staff and faculty, irrespective of their social identity or status, and benefits the society in which they live.
• Commit to the intellectual, social and personal development of our students so that
they may more fully engage with our collaborative and interconnected world. We
believe that a democratic society depends in part on an educated citizenry, and
therefore our mission compels us to provide a Whitman education to the broadest
range of the population to ensure meaningful and effective participation in democracy.
• Ensure that a Whitman education is increasingly available to historically
marginalized and underrepresented groups (including but not limited to race,
ethnicity, economic standing, sex and gender identity, sexual orientation,
nationality, religion, culture, geographic origins, neurodiversity, and
ability/disability).
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of Whitman College. Our mission focuses on educating a broad range of talented students in a college community where everyone can participate fully in the life of the college and experience a genuine sense of belonging. For Whitman, diversity includes the composition of the students, faculty and staff, as well as the curriculum, ideas, experiences, relations and cultural traditions across our community. We must become a place where both majority and minority members of our community experience difference every day, where diversity is woven throughout our cultural fabric: our values, our behavior, our culture.
Rationale
As an educational institution, Whitman College has been on a long journey towards diversity, equity and inclusion, making them core values to our mission of educating a broad range of talented students. Equity provides full participation for all students, faculty and staff to all facilities, programs and resources of the college. And inclusion means creating a sense of belonging for all members of our community, where the climate promotes full participation in the life of the college. Such an inclusive, equitable and diverse learning environment enhances student learning by providing opportunity for vigorous exchange of ideas that improves the quality of a Whitman education.
Approach
• Weave diversity throughout our cultural fabric: our values, our behavior, our culture. We believe that such a deepened educational experience benefits all students, staff and faculty, irrespective of their social identity or status, and benefits the society in which they live.
• Commit to the intellectual, social and personal development of our students so that
they may more fully engage with our collaborative and interconnected world. We
believe that a democratic society depends in part on an educated citizenry, and
therefore our mission compels us to provide a Whitman education to the broadest
range of the population to ensure meaningful and effective participation in democracy.
• Ensure that a Whitman education is increasingly available to historically
marginalized and underrepresented groups (including but not limited to race,
ethnicity, economic standing, sex and gender identity, sexual orientation,
nationality, religion, culture, geographic origins, neurodiversity, and
ability/disability).
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
No
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
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Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
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The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
Yes
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The Climate Action Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No | |
The Earth Charter | No |
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | No |
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | No |
Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | No |
SDG Accord | No |
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | Yes |
The Talloires Declaration (TD) | No |
UN Global Compact | No |
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
Whitman College is a signatory of the President's Climate Leadership Commitments Carbon Commitment, overseen by Second Nature.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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